©Plair SA www.Plair.ch [email protected]
SOLUTION FOR REAL-TIME POLLEN COUNTING
Real-time identification
Automatic counting
Autonomous operation
© Plair SA www.Plair.ch [email protected]
SOLUTION FOR REAL-TIME POLLEN COUNTING
Continuous monitoring and real-time identification
Rapid-E, or Real-Time Airborne Particle Identifier, is the
new, easy way to count allergens – automatically, and
more rapidly and precisely than ever before. The
operation of the Rapid-E monitoring station is based on
proprietary, state-of-the-art laser-sensing technology
and artificial intelligence to identify and count multiple
pollen species simultaneously and in real time.
Plair offers the world’s most advanced comprehensive
solution for allergen detection. The solution comprises
Rapid-E with its monitoring station housing, cloud-based
data processing, and a customer online dashboard.
Rapid-E’s rugged housing withstands continuous outdoor operation in temperatures between -30°C and
45°C, and has a SIGMA-2 inlet for a more efficient sampling. The Rapid-E station requires no human
intervention and low maintenance, ensuring reliable and uninterrupted environmental monitoring.
Rapid-E
Weather station
Sampling air inlet
GSM antenna
Rapid-E housing
Electricity
Rapid-E monitoring station
© Plair SA www.Plair.ch [email protected]
TECHNOLOGY
For comprehensive single airborne particle detection
Rapid-E’s technology is based on scattered light pattern analysis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The
instrument continuously aspirates ambient air with all its aerosol particles. Once the aerosol particles are
captured, they enter the nozzle, which creates a narrow laminar flow in the measurement chamber
(Figure).
The scattered light pattern analysis, performed through the interaction of each individual airborne
particle and infrared (IR) light, allows the instant determination of a particle’s morphology, such as size
and shape. The fluorescence spectroscopy analysis, through the interaction of each individual airborne
particle and ultraviolet (UV) light, provides real-time information on chemical characteristics, such as
measurements of spectra and lifetime.
The measured optical parameters of airborne particles are analyzed in real time with state-of-the-art
artificial intelligence algorithms to automatically provide users with real-time counts of the most
common allergenic pollen species.
Nozzle
IR laser IR laser
Detector
Fluorescence detection
Detector
UV laser
Figure Plair technology working principle
Reference: Benoît Crouzy, Michelle Stella, Thomas Konzelmann, Bertrand Calpini and Bernard Clot,
“All-optical automatic pollen identification: Towards an operational system”, Atmospheric Environment,
Vol. 140, September 2016, pp.202–212.
©Plair SA www.Plair.ch [email protected]
ONLINE DATA VISUALIZATION
The solution includes PlairGrid, an online dashboard, to
visualize data acquired in the field. PlairGrid enables
viewing and managing hourly and daily counts of
different pollen types and other particles, as well as total
pollen and particle counts. In addition, it provides all
useful servicing parameters of Rapid-E.
APPLICATIONS
Pollen species Fungal spores
Foxtail grass (Alopecurus) Orchardgrass (Dactylis) Trichothecium
Ragweed (Ambrosia) Ash (Fraxinus) Cladosporium
Birch (Betula) Pine tree (Pinus) Botrytis
Hazel (Corylus) Plantain (Plantago) Chaetomium
Hornbeam (Carpinus) Plane tree (Platanus)
Cypress (Cupressus) Vernal grass (Anthoxanthum)
Sorrel (Rumex) Oak (Quercus)
Elm (Ulmus)
©Plair SA www.Plair.ch [email protected]
APPLICATION EXAMPLES
First isolated bioaerosol families: pollen and fungal spores
Some fungal spores measured by Rapid-E
Pollen species identified by Rapid-E
© Plair SA www.Plair.ch [email protected]
Plair SA
Chemin des Aulx 18 1228 Plan-les-Ouates Switzerland
Web: www.Plair.ch Email: [email protected] Phone: +41 (0)22 552-3830
About Plair SA
Plair SA is a manufacturer and provider of instruments for high-specificity airborne particle analysis in real time, offering solutions for allergen and pollution monitoring. The analysis includes detection of pollen species, organic particles such as fungal spores, inorganic particles such as soot and Saharan dust or sand, and pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
Disclaimer
This publication’s contents are provided as is by Plair SA. Plair makes no representations nor warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this publication and reserves the right to make changes to the specifications at any time without notice. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
